Tie down for a spa cover lifter

ABSTRACT

A tie-down for joining a pivot arm of a spa cover lifter and a spa cover comprising a pivot arm restraint to retain at least a portion of the pivot arm and a spa cover connector portion coupled to the pivot arm restraint for coupling the tie-down to the spa cover.

FIELD

This application relates to the field of spa covers.

INTRODUCTION

Spas, especially those for outdoor use, are typically covered by a spa cover. The spa cover serves to keep dirt, leaves and other debris out of the spa. Insulated spa covers are also useful for retaining the heat of the hot water inside the spa.

A spa cover is normally removed before a user will enter the spa. Spa covers are often many inches thick and can have considerable weight, especially when insulated. This can make it difficult to remove the spa cover before use of the spa, but also when moving the spa cover back to cover the spa. Conveniently, a spa may be fitted with a spa cover lifter, which can assist the user in lifting and storing the spa cover off of the spa, and in moving the spa cover back to cover the spa.

To assist the movement of the spa cover, spa cover lifters can include damping mechanisms, such as gas pistons, to help slow the decent of the spa cover when moving it back onto the spa.

DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the described embodiments and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a spa with a spa cover in a closed position;

FIG. 2 shows the spa of FIG. 1, with the spa cover in the half-open position;

FIG. 3 shows the spa of FIG. 1, with the spa cover in the open position;

FIG. 4 shows a tie down in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a tie down in accordance with another embodiment; and

FIG. 6 shows a spa with the spa cover in the closed position similar to FIG. 1, but without the tie downs.

The drawings, described below, are provided for purposes of illustration, and not of limitation, of the aspects and features of various examples of embodiments described herein. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the teachings in any way. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely describing implementation of the various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a spa 100 with a spa cover 102 in a closed position. In the closed position, spa cover 102 prevents dirt and debris from entering spa 100, and retains the heat of the hot water inside spa 100. In the example shown, spa cover 102 comprises a first half 110 and a second half 112 that are joined by fabric covering 114.

Spa 100 also comprises a spa cover lifter 104. Spa cover lifter 104 helps to lift spa cover 102 into the open position shown in FIG. 3 and assists in the return of the spa cover to the closed position shown in FIG. 1. In the example shown, spa cover lifter 104 includes a pivot arm 106 and a piston 108.

To remove spa cover 102, starting from the closed position shown in FIG. 1, a user can fold first half 110 of the spa cover 102 in the direction of arrow 116 over second half 112 and over pivot arm 106, thus setting the spa cover 102 in the half-open position shown in FIG. 2. Afterwards, the user can pivot spa cover 102 and pivot arm 106 in the direction of arrow 118, thus setting spa cover 102 in the open position shown in FIG. 3.

Spa cover lifter 104 may retain spa cover 102 in the open position until a user is ready to close spa cover 102. A user may close spa cover 102 by doing the opposite of that described above to open spa cover 102. Starting from the open position shown in FIG. 3, spa cover 102 and pivot arm 106 can be rotated in the direction of arrow 120 until spa cover 102 is in the half-closed position shown in FIG. 2.

In the example shown, piston 108 can provide resistance to the rotation of spa cover 102 and pivot arm 106 as they rotate in the direction of arrow 120. This can allow spa cover 102 to descend slowly by its own weight, instead of crashing down onto spa 100.

Piston 108 compresses as pivot arm 106 rotates to have the spa cover 102 descend onto spa 100. After spa cover 102 and pivot arm 106 have descended and the first half 110 has been unfolded (as shown in FIG. 1), piston 108 can have a tendency to extend and thereby lift pivot arm 106 away from spa cover 102. FIG. 6 shows a spa with a spa cover 102 where the lift arm 106 is raised above the spa cover surface because of the action of the pistons 108. In addition to being unattractive (having the lift arm 106 sticking up from and extending over the top of the spa cover 102 surface), the raised lift arm 106 can make it difficult to subsequently fold first half 110 over pivot arm 106 should the user desire to move the spa cover 102 to the storage position as shown in FIG. 3.

In the example shown, spa cover 102 is provided with tie downs 122 that couple pivot arm 106 to the spa cover 102. But for tie-downs 122, piston 108 could lift pivot arm 106 away from spa cover 102 when the two halves 110, 112 of the spa cover 102 are unfolded as shown in FIG. 6. It is convenient for pivot arm 106 to be close to spa cover 102 when folding first half 110 over second half 112 to set the spa cover 102 into the half open position shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a tie down 200 in accordance with one embodiment. In the example shown, tie-down 200 comprises a pivot arm restraint 202 and a spa cover connector 204.

Generally, pivot arm restraint 202 is capable of connecting to pivot arm 106. In some embodiments, pivot arm restraint 202 may be configured to encircle about at least a portion of pivot arm 106. In the example shown, pivot arm restraint 202 forms a loop, which may be slid onto pivot arm 106, for example. In variant embodiments, pivot arm restraint 202 may comprise a hook or a clip for example.

In the example shown, pivot arm restraint 202 comprises a strap. It will be understood that a strap may comprise flexible fabrics and leathers, as well as cast, molded or otherwise formed metals, plastics, ceramics and combinations thereof, both flexible and rigid.

Generally, spa cover connector 204 is coupled to pivot arm restraint 202 and capable of coupling the tie down 200 to spa cover 102. In the example shown, spa cover connector 204 comprises an upper side 206 coupled to pivot arm restraint 202 and a lower side 208 coupled to spa cover 102. Upper side 206 may be coupled directly or indirectly to pivot arm restraint 202. For example, upper side 206 may be coupled to pivot arm restraint 202 using, for example, but not limited to, adhesive, stitching or rivets. In some cases, spa cover connector 204 and pivot arm restraint 202 may be integrally formed, from plastic, metal or fabric, for example.

Lower side 208 may be coupled to spa cover 102 by, for example, but not limited to, adhesive or screws. In some embodiments, lower side 208 may comprise hooks for mating with loops provided on spa cover 102, or vice versa, to provide a removable coupling.

FIG. 5 shows a tie down 300 in accordance with another embodiment. Tie down 300 may be substantially similar to tie down 200 except for spa cover connector 304. In the example shown, spa cover connector 304 comprises an upper portion 310 and a lower portion 312. Upper portion 310 can be permanently coupled to pivot arm restraint 202 using adhesives, stitching, rivets or by integrally molding the upper portion 310 with pivot arm restraint 202. In the example shown, upper portion 310 comprises one of a hook member and a loop member, and upper side 314 of lower portion 312 comprises the other of the hook member and the loop member. The hook and loop members can permit the upper portion 310 and the lower portion 312 to be removably connectable.

In the example shown, lower side 316 of lower portion 312 is coupled to spa cover 102. For example, lower side 316 may comprise an adhesive or screws, or may comprise hooks for mating with loops provided on spa cover 102 or vice versa.

Pivot arm restraint 202 may comprise a strap formed in a loop as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, pivot arm restraint 202 may comprise a first end 218, a second 220, and an intermediate portion 222 between the first end 218 and the second end 220. One or more of the first and second ends 218, 220 may be connected to a spa cover connector 204, 304. For example, one or both of ends 218, 220 may be connected to spa cover connector 204, 304 by adhesive, rivets, or stitching. In some embodiments, one or both ends 218, 220 may be integrally molded with spa cover connector 204.

A number of embodiments have been described herein. However, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments as defined in the claims appended hereto. 

1. A tie-down for joining a pivot arm of a spa cover lifter and a spa cover comprising: a pivot arm restraint to retain at least a portion of the pivot arm; and a spa cover connector portion coupled to the pivot arm restraint for coupling the tie-down to the spa cover.
 2. The tie-down of claim 1 wherein the pivot arm restraint comprises a strap.
 3. The tie-down of claim 1 wherein the spa cover connector portion comprises: an upper portion coupled to the pivot arm restraint; and a lower portion comprising an upper side removably attachable to the upper portion and a lower side couplable to the spa cover.
 4. The tie-down of claim 3 further comprising a hook-and-loop fastener having a hook member and a loop member, wherein the upper portion comprises one of the hook member and the loop member, and the upper side comprises the other of the hook member and the loop member.
 5. The tie-down of claim 4 wherein the lower side comprises adhesive.
 6. The tie-down of claim 2 wherein the strap extends from a first end to a second end, and the strap defines a loop between the first end and the second end.
 7. The tie-down of claim 6 wherein the strap further comprises an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end, the first end and the second end are proximal to the spa cover connector portion, and the intermediate portion is remote from the spa cover connector portion.
 8. The tie-down of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first end and the second end are coupled to the spa cover connector portion.
 9. The tie-down of claim 2 wherein the material of the strap is selected from the group comprising plastic, leather, metal and fabric.
 10. The tie-down of claim 1 wherein the pivot arm restraint and the spa cover connector portion are integrally molded. 